What should I do if my preschooler still talks like a baby, saying, "Me want juice?"

Although 3 is the age when your child should begin to leave the baby talk behind, every child develops differently. It's fine at this age for your child to still speak in three-word sentences, but the content of the sentences should change. Look for your preschooler to start using "are" and "is" ("He is nice" rather than "He nice"), as well as definite articles ("Want the ball" instead of "Want ball").

If he's not starting to display these skills, there are positive ways to encourage him to speak more correctly without making him feel like he's doing something wrong. Start slowly; pick just one word in a phrase to change or add at a time. Don't try to get him to say, "May I please have some juice?" That's too big a jump. The least effective thing you can do is have him repeat a long sentence like that one or two words at a time. He will never remember it the next time, and he may even avoid talking if it results in a drill.

When he says, "Me want juice," simply model back, "You mean, 'I want juice?' " making sure you emphasize the word you want him to focus on. Most likely, he will imitate it correctly. If he repeats it incorrectly, let it go. Even if you're frustrated, avoid shaming him with responses such as "Stop talking like a baby! You're a big boy now!" He needs to hear you rephrase it correctly over and over. Once he says, "I want juice" without prompting (and, of course, with lots of praise from you), you can add another word: "I want juice, please," and so on.

If your preschooler is frustrated and not improving within about four months, it may be a good idea to consult a speech-language pathologist to see whether he needs some additional help. Talk with his pediatrician, and, if he's in preschool, with his teacher. His preschool may refer you to a speech and language intervention program (usually coordinated through the county or public school system) that will provide a free speech and language screening. Or his doctor can refer you to a private speech-language pathologist for an evaluation. In general, the earlier a language delay is detected, the easier it is to treat. Many language problems can be treated effectively during the preschool years so that your child will have no long-term deficits.

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